System and Method for Utilizing Fingerprints as User Inputs

ABSTRACT

An information handling system includes a tablet computer, which in turn includes a touch sensor, a sensor detector, and a processor. The sensor detector is configured to communicate with the touch sensor, and to detect a first fingerprint on the touch sensor. The processor is configured to communicate with the sensor detector, to determine that the first fingerprint is within a first zone of the touch sensor, to match the first fingerprint to a stored fingerprint for the first zone of the touch sensor, to determine a first input function associated with the first fingerprint based on the first fingerprint matching the stored fingerprint for the first zone, and to execute the first input function.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure generally relates to information handling systems, andmore particularly relates to utilizing fingerprints as user inputs to aninformation handling system.

BACKGROUND

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individualsand businesses seek additional ways to process and store information.One option is an information handling system. An information handlingsystem generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicatesinformation or data for business, personal, or other purposes. Becausetechnology and information handling needs and requirements may varybetween different applications, information handling systems may alsovary regarding what information is handled, how the information ishandled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, andhow quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, orcommunicated. The variations in information handling systems allow forinformation handling systems to be general or configured for a specificuser or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airlinereservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. Inaddition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardwareand software components that may be configured to process, store, andcommunicate information and may include one or more computer systems,data storage systems, and networking systems.

An information handling system, such as a tablet computer, can include avirtual keyboard for receiving input functions to be performed by thetablet computer. For example, a user can utilize a virtual keyboardpresented on a display screen of the tablet computer to compose anelectronic mail message, compose a word processing document, performactions during a video game application, or the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,elements illustrated in the Figures have not necessarily been drawn toscale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements areexaggerated relative to other elements. Embodiments incorporatingteachings of the present disclosure are shown and described with respectto the drawings presented herein, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a front view of a tablet computer;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a rear view of an embodiment of the tabletcomputer;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a rear view of another embodiment of the tabletcomputer;

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a front view of the tablet computer and a dock;

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a rear view of the tablet computer and the dock;

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a method for a training ode to associatefingerprints to an input function;

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a method for performing an input function inresponse to a detected fingerprint; and

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an information handling system according toan embodiment of the present disclosure.

The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicatessimilar or identical items.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The following description in combination with the Figures is provided toassist in understanding the teachings disclosed herein. The followingdiscussion will focus on specific implementations and embodiments of theteachings. This focus is provided to assist in describing the teachingsand should not be interpreted as a limitation on the scope orapplicability of the teachings. However, other teachings may be utilizedin this application, as well as in other applications and with severaldifferent types of architectures such as distributed computingarchitectures, client or server architectures, or middleware serverarchitectures and associated components.

For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system mayinclude any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operableto compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate,switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, orutilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business,scientific, control, entertainment, or other purposes. For example, aninformation handling system may be a personal computer, a PDA, aconsumer electronic device, a network server or storage device, a switchrouter, wireless router, or other network communication device, or anyother suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance,functionality, and price, The information handling system may includememory, one or more processing resources such as a central processingunit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic. Additional componentsof the information handling system may include one or more storagedevices, one or more communications ports for communicating withexternal devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, suchas a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The information handlingsystem may also include one or more buses operable to transmitcommunications between the various hardware components.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an information handling system in the form of atablet computer 100. The tablet computer includes a front panel 102 anda display screen 104. The tablet computer 100 internally includes aprocessor 130, a sensor detector 132, a memory 134, and an input/outputinterface 136, In an embodiment, the memory 134 can be any type ofnon-volatile memory, such as flash memory, The input/output interface136 can be any combination of a dock interface, a Bluetooth module, awired or wireless Internet Protocol module, or the like. The processor130 is in communication with the sensor detector 132, the memory 134,and the I/O interface 136. The sensor detector 132 is also incommunication with the I/O interface 136.

As shown in FIG. 2, the tablet computer 100 also includes a back surface202, a first group of touch sensors 210, 212, and 214, and a secondgroup of touch sensors 220, 222, and 224. Each of the touch sensors210-214 and 220-224 can be any type optical sensor capable of scanning afingertip place on the touch sensor, and thereby receiving or detectinga fingerprint. The sensor detector 132 is in communication with each ofthe touch sensors 210-214 and 220-224. However, for simplicity thecommunication channels connecting the sensor detector 132 to the touchsensors 210-214 and 220-224 have not been shown. The sensor detector 132can identify each of the touch sensors 210-214 and 220-224 as anindividual zone of that touch sensor. For example, a fingerprintdetected anywhere in touch sensor 210 can be identified by sensordetector 132 as being located in a zone of touch sensor 210.

The tablet computer 100 can be placed in a training mode to set userfingerprints to input functions for the tablet computer, Once thetraining mode is initiated, the user can place one of his or her fingerson one of the touch sensors, such as touch sensor 210, which in turn canscan the fingerprint and send the detected fingerprint to the sensordetector 132. Upon receiving the fingerprint, the sensor detector 132can determine what touch sensor, such as touch sensor 210, thefingerprint was received from and then send the fingerprint along with atouch sensor identifier to the processor 130. The processor 130 can thendetermine whether the detected fingerprint is already associated withthe determined touch sensor and stored in the memory 134. For example,the processor 130 can access memory 134 and determine whether thedetected fingerprint is already associated with touch sensor 210.

If the fingerprint is already associated with touch sensor 210, theprocessor can determine the input function to be performed when thefingerprint is detected on that touch sensor. In an embodiment, theinput function can be an alphanumeric key input of a keyboard, a spacekey input, any other input key from a keyboard, an action in a videogame application running on the tablet computer 100, a sequence ofactions, or the like. The processor 130 can then provide a message, ondisplay screen 104, to the user indicating that the fingerprint isalready associated with touch sensor 210, and to identify the currentinput function to be performed when the fingerprint is detected in thetouch sensor 210. The processor 130 can also provide the user with agraphical user interface (GUI) on the display screen 104 to enable theuser to change the input function to be performed when the fingerprintis detected in touch sensor 210. Upon the user either re-saving thecurrent input function or saving anew input function for the fingerprintin touch sensor 210, the processor 130 can provide a message to the userindicating that a new fingerprint can be received, and the substantiallysame process can be performed or the user can exit the training mode.

However, if the fingerprint is not already associated with or mapped totouch sensor 210, the processor 130 can provide the GUI on the displayscreen 104 to enable the user to select an the input function to beperformed when the fingerprint is detected in touch sensor 210. Upon theuser selecting and saving an input function for the fingerprint in touchsensor 210, the processor 130 can provide a message to the userindicating that a new fingerprint can be received, and the substantiallysame process can be performed or the user can exit the training mode. Inan embodiment, the user can repeat this process until the user hasstored a desired number of fingerprints for any combination of the touchsensors 210-214 and 270-224.

In an embodiment, the training mode can be universal across everyapplication executed in the tablet computer 100, such that the samefingerprint detected in the same touch sensor can be the same inputfunction for all applications executed in the tablet computer. Inanother embodiment, the training mode can be different for eachapplication or can include an option to select particular applicationsto assign the detection of a fingerprint in a touch sensor to aparticular input function to be performed, such that one fingerprint inthe same touch sensor can be different input functions depending on theapplication executing in the tablet computer 100. For example, the usercan select that a particular fingerprint detected in touch sensor 220 isthe alphanumeric character ‘a’ while the tablet computer 100 isexecuting a word processing application, a text messaging application,an electronic mail application, or the like. However, the samefingerprint detected in the touch sensor 220 is a jump input functionwhile the tablet computer 100 is executing a video game application.

During normal operation, a user can hold the tablet computer 100 in sucha way that the user's fingers wrap around the tablet computer and restnear the touch sensors 210-214 and 220-224 on the back surface 202. Theuser can also hold the front surface 102 of the tablet computer 100 withhis or her thumbs to securely hold the tablet computer. The user canthen use his or her fingerprints on the touch sensors 210-214 and220-224 to perform different actions in an application running on thetablet computer 100. For example, the tablet computer 100 may beexecuting an electronic mail application and the user can utilize eachof his or her fingerprints in the different touch sensors 210-214 and220-224 to input different alphanumeric character while composing anelectronic mail message.

A touch sensor, such as touch sensor 212, can detect a fingerprint andcan provide the fingerprint to the sensor detector 132, which in turncan determine that the fingerprint was detected at touch sensor 212. Thesensor detector 132 can then provide the fingerprint and touch sensoridentification, such as an identification of touch sensor 212, to theprocessor 130, and the processor can determine an input function toperform based on the fingerprint and the touch sensor identification.The processor 132 can access memory 13.4 to determine the input functionto perform by correlating the fingerprint with the touch sensor 212, Forexample, the processor 130 can determine that the detected fingerprintin touch sensor 212 is associated with the alphanumeric character ‘t’,and the processor can then perform the input function by outputting theletter ‘t’ in the electronic mail application. The processor 130, sensordetector 132, memory 134, and touch sensors 210-214 and 220-224 cancontinue to communicate while the user is pressing his or her fingertipsto the touch sensors to determine different input functions to executeas described above until the user exits the application, such as anemail application, executing in the tablet computer 100.

FIG. 3 shows a rear view of another embodiment of the tablet computer100. As shown in FIG. 3, the rear surface 202 includes touch sensors 302and 304, and each of the touch sensors include one or more zones. Forexample, touch sensor 302 includes zones 310, 312, and 314, and touchsensor 304 includes zones 320, 322, and 324. The sensor detector 132,shown in FIG. 1, is in communication with each of the touch sensors 302and 304. However, for simplicity the communication channels connectingthe sensor detector 132 to the touch sensors 302 and 304 have not beenshown.

The touch sensors 302 and 304 can be different touch sensors that eachhas continuous zones without any gaps in the touch sensor, In anembodiment, the size of each of the zones of a touch sensor candynamically vary between uses of the tablet computer 100. For example,zone 312 can always be in between zones 310 and 314 of touch sensor 302,but the size of each of the zones can vary based different factors, suchas the size of the user's hands, how the user holds his or her hands onthe tablet computer 100, or the like.

In an embodiment, the user can provide a multiple touch event 350 as aninput on one of the touch sensors, such as touch sensor 302. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 3, the multiple touch event 350 can be two ormore fingerprints detected at substantially the same time on the touchsensor 302. The sensor detector 132 can receive the multiple touch event350 from the touch sensor 302 and determine the location of the multipletouch event on the touch sensor. The sensor detector 132 can then assignor set different zones in the touch sensor 302 based on the location ofthe multiple touch event 350. In an embodiment, the sensor detector 132can set zone 312 to have a vertical orientation within touch sensor 302and to include the location of the multiple touch event 350. The sensordetector 132 can then assign or set zone 310 to include a region of thetouch sensor 302 in between zone 312 and an edge of the touch sensortoward an edge of the back surface 202, and can assign or set zone 314to include the remaining region of the touch sensor 302, such as inbetween zone 312 and an edge of the touch sensor toward the middle ofthe back surface. The sensor detector 132 can also receive a multipletouch event 350 on the touch sensor 304 and assign or set the zones fortouch sensor 304 in substantially the same manner, such that zone 322 iscentered around the location of the multiple touch event, and zones 320and 324 are located on opposite sides of zone 322 within touch sensor304.

The tablet computer 100 can then be placed in a training mode or normaloperation mode. In training mode, the user can place one of his or herfingers on one of the touch sensors, such as touch sensor 304, which inturn can scan the fingerprint and send the detected fingerprint to thesensor detector 132. Upon receiving the fingerprint, the sensor detector132 can determine what zone of a touch sensor, such as zone 320 of touchsensor 304, the fingerprint was received from and then send thefingerprint along with a touch sensor zone identifier to the processor130. The processor 130 can then determine whether the detectedfingerprint is already associated with the determined touch sensor zoneand stored in the memory 134. For example, the processor 130 can accessmemory 134 and determine whether the detected fingerprint is alreadyassociated with zone 320 of touch sensor 304.

If the fingerprint is already associated with touch sensor 210, theprocessor can determine the input function to be performed when thefingerprint is detected on that touch sensor. The processor 130 can thenprovide a message, on display screen 104, to the user indicating thatthe fingerprint is already associated with zone 320 of touch sensor 304,and to identify the current input function to be performed when thefingerprint is detected in zone 320 of touch sensor 304. The processor130 can also provide the user with the GUI on the display screen 104 toenable the user to change the input function to be performed when thefingerprint is detected in zone 320 of touch sensor 304. Upon the usereither re-saving the current input function or saving anew inputfunction for the fingerprint in zone 320 of touch sensor 304, theprocessor 130 can provide a message to the user indicating that a newfingerprint can be received, and the substantially same process can beperformed or the user can exit the training mode.

However, if the fingerprint is not already associated with or mapped tozone 320 of touch sensor 304, the processor 130 can provide the GUI onthe display screen 104 to enable the user to select an the inputfunction to be performed when the fingerprint is detected in zone 320 oftouch sensor 304. Upon the user selecting and saving an input functionfor the fingerprint in zone 320 of touch sensor 304, the processor 130can provide a message to the user indicating that a new fingerprint canbe received, and the substantially same process can be performed or theuser can exit the training mode. In an embodiment, the user can repeatthis process until the user has stored a desired number of fingerprintsfor any combination of the zones 310-314 of touch sensor 302 and zones320-324 of touch sensor 304.

During normal operation, a user can hold the tablet computer 100 in sucha way that the user's fingers wrap around the tablet computer and restnear the touch sensors 302 and 304 on the back surface 202. The user canalso hold the front surface 102 of the tablet computer 100 with his orher thumbs to securely hold the tablet computer. The user can thenperform a multiple touch event 350 on both touch sensors 302 and 304 tocause the sensor detector 132 to assign or set the zones within thetouch sensors. The assigned zones can continue to be mapped to the inputfunctions selected during the training mode no matter where the currentboundaries for the zones are assigned. For example, if the multipletouch event 350 results in the sensor detector 132 shifting zone 312left or right on the touch sensor 302, the processor 130 will continueto map the same input functions to the zone, because the sensor detectorcan provide the zone and touch sensor identification to the processor.

A touch sensor, such as touch sensor 302, can detect a fingerprint andcan provide the fingerprint to the sensor detector 132, which in turncan determine that the fingerprint was detected at zone 314 of touchsensor 302. The sensor detector 132 can then provide the fingerprintalong with the touch sensor identification, such as an identification ofzone 314 of touch sensor 302, to the processor 130, and the processorcan determine an input function to perform based on the fingerprint andthe touch sensor identification. The processor 132 can access memory 134to determine the input function to perform by correlating thefingerprint with zone 314 of touch sensor 302. For example, theprocessor 130 can determine that the detected fingerprint in zone 314 oftouch sensor 302 is associated with a jump action in a video gameapplication executing in tablet computer 100, and the processor can thenperform the input function.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show respective front and rear views of the tabletcomputer 100 and a dock 400. As shown in FIG. 4, the dock 400 includes acradle 402, and handles 402 and 404. The cradle 401 includes a bottomrail 405 and a top rail 502 (shown in FIG. 5). The handle 402 includes aloop 406 and control inputs 408. The handle 404 includes a loop 406, acontrol input 408, and touch sensors 410 and 412. The tablet computerincludes a front panel 102 and a display screen 104. The tablet computer100 internally includes a processor 130, a sensor detector 132, a memory134, and an input/output interface 136. The dock 400 internally includesan I/O interface 440 to communicate with the I/O interface 136 of thetablet computer 100. The input/output interfaces 136 and 440 can be anycombination of a dock interface, a Bluetooth module, a wired or wirelessInternet Protocol module, or the like. As shown in FIG. 5, the handle402 includes touch sensors 510, 512, and 514, the handle 504 includestouch sensors 520, 522, and 524, and the tablet computer 100 includesaback surface 202 in physical communication with top rail 502 of thecradle 401. The I/O interface 440, shown in FIG. 4, is in communicationwith each of the control inputs 408, and with each of the touch sensors410, 412, 510-514, and 520-524. However, for simplicity thecommunication channels connecting the I/O interface 440 with each of thecontrol inputs 408, and with each of the touch sensors 410, 412,510-514, and 520-524 have not been shown.

The tablet computer 100 and dock 400 can be placed in a training mode toset user fingerprints on the touch sensors 410, 412, 510-514, and520-524 of the dock to input functions for the tablet computer. Once thetraining mode is initiated, the user can place one of his or her fingersor thumbs on one of the touch sensors, such as touch sensor 410, whichin turn can scan the fingerprint and send the detected fingerprint tothe sensor detector 132 via the I/O interfaces 440 and 136. As usedherein, a fingerprint can be both the unique print on the tip of one ofthe fingers on either hand or can the print on the tip of one of thethumbs on either of the individual's hands. Upon receiving thefingerprint, the sensor detector 132 can determine what touch sensor,such as touch sensor 410, the fingerprint was received from and thensend the fingerprint along with a touch sensor identifier to theprocessor 130. The processor 130 can then determine whether the detectedfingerprint is already associated with the determined touch sensor andstored in the memory 134. For example, the processor 130 can accessmemory 134 and determine whether the detected fingerprint is alreadyassociated with touch sensor 410.

If the fingerprint is already associated with touch sensor 410, theprocessor can determine the input function to be performed when thefingerprint is detected on that touch sensor. The processor 130 can thenprovide a message, on display screen 104, to the user indicating thatthe fingerprint is already associated with touch sensor 410, and toidentify the current input function to be performed when the fingerprintis detected in the touch sensor 410. The processor 130 can also providethe user with the GUI on the display screen 104 to enable the user tochange the input function to be performed when the fingerprint isdetected in touch sensor 410. Upon the user either re-saving the currentinput function or saving a new input function for the fingerprint intouch sensor 410, the processor 130 can provide a message to the userindicating that a new fingerprint can be received, and the substantiallysame process can be performed or the user can exit the training mode.

However, if the fingerprint is not already associated with or mapped totouch sensor 410, the processor 130 can provide the GUI on the displayscreen 104 to enable the user to select an the input function to beperformed when the fingerprint is detected in touch sensor 410. Upon theuser selecting and saving an input function for the fingerprint in touchsensor 410, the processor 130 can provide a message to the userindicating that a new fingerprint can be received. In an embodiment, theuser can repeat this process until the user has stored a desired numberof fingerprints for any combination of the touch sensors 410, 412,510-514, and 520-524.

In an embodiment, the training mode for the touch sensors 410, 412,510-514, and 520-524 of dock 400 can be universal across everyapplication executed in the tablet computer 100, such that the samefingerprint detected in the same touch sensor can be the same inputfunction for all applications executed in the tablet computer. Inanother embodiment, the training mode can be different for eachapplication or can include an option to select particular applicationsto assign the detection of a fingerprint in a touch sensor to aparticular input function to be performed, such that one fingerprint inthe same touch sensor can be different input functions depending on theapplication executing in the tablet computer 100.

During normal operation, a user can hold the handles 402 and 404 of dock400 in such a way that the user's fingers wrap around the tabletcomputer and rest near the touch sensors 510-514 and 520-524 on the backsurface 202, and one of his or her thumbs to be near touch sensors 410and 412. For example, the user can rest the loops 406 of the handles 402and 404 on the user's hands to allow him or her to move his or herfingers without risk of dropping the dock 400 and tablet computer 100.The user can then use his or her fingerprints on the touch sensors 410,412, 510-514, and 520-524 to perform different actions in an applicationrunning on the tablet computer 100. For example, touch sensor 524 canreceive a fingerprint and can provide the fingerprint to sensor detector132 via the I/O interfaces 440 and 135. The sensor detector 132 andprocessor 130 can then operate as described above to perform an inputfunction associated with the detected fingerprint in touch sensor 524.

As shown in FIG. 5, touch sensor 510-514 and 520-524 are separate touchsensors. However, in an embodiment, touch sensors 510-514 can beindividual zones of a single touch sensor, and touch sensors 520-524 canbe individual zones of another touch sensor substantially similar to thetouch sensors described above with respect to FIG. 3. In thisembodiment, the sensor detector 132 can utilize a multiple touch eventto assigned or set the different zones of the touch sensors on thehandles 402 and 404 as described above.

FIG. 6 shows a flow diagram of a method 600 for executing a trainingmode to associate fingerprints to an input function. The flow begins atblock 602, during which an information handling system, such as a tabletcomputer, enters a training mode. In an embodiment, the training modecan be selected via a soft button on the tablet computer, by voiceprompt, or the like. Additionally, the training mode can be entered intowhile the tablet computer is both connected to and not connected to adock. At block 604, a fingerprint is detected at a touch sensor. In anembodiment, the touch sensor can be located on a rear panel of thetablet computer, on a rear panel of the dock connected to the tabletcomputer, on a front panel of the dock, or the like. The flow continuesat block 606, and a particular zone of the touch sensor, which thefingerprint is detected, is determined. For example, the touch sensorcan have three separate zones, and the fingerprint can be located in thethird zone.

At block 608, a determination is made whether the fingerprint matches astored fingerprint for the particular zone. In an embodiment,fingerprints that were previously received/detected during a trainingmode can be associated with the different zones of the touch sensor andcan be stored in a memory of the tablet computer. In an embodiment, thesame fingerprint can be associated with a different input functiondepending on which zone of the touch sensor the fingerprint is detected.In an embodiment, a processor can compare the detected fingerprint toeach of the fingerprints, if any, that are stored in the memory and thatare associated with the particular zone in which the fingerprint wasdetected. If the fingerprint matches a stored fingerprint for theparticular zone, the flow continues as described above at block 604.However, if the fingerprint does not match a stored fingerprint for theparticular zone, a prompt is provided to the user of the tablet computerrequesting that the user select an input function for the fingerprintwhen detected in the particular zone. In an embodiment the inputfunction can be an alphanumerical character of a keyboard, an action ina video game application, a sequence of actions in the videogameapplication, or the like. At block 610, the fingerprint is stored, in amemory, as being associated with the selected input function when thefingerprint is detected in the particular zone of the touch sensor.

FIG. 7 shows a flow diagram of a method 700 for performing an inputfunction in response to a detected fingerprint. In an embodiment, themethod 700 can be used in conjunction with the method 600 describedabove, For example, method 600 can be executed prior to method 700 beenexecuted, at any point white method 700 is being executed, or the like.

At block 702, a multiple touch event is detected. In an embodiment, themultiple touch event can be registered on a touch sensor and detected bya sensor detector of the of a tablet computer. The multiple touch eventcan detected when more than one fingerprint is received at the touchsensor. In an embodiment, the touch sensor can be located on the rearpanel of a tablet computer, a rear panel of a dock connected to thetablet computer, a front panel of the dock, or the like. At block 704,the touch sensor can be divided into multiple zones the based on thelocation of the multiple touch event. In an embodiment, the touch sensorcan be divided into three separate zones, and the center zone can belocated in a vertical orientation along the touch sensor where themultiple touch event was detected. An additional zone can beidentified/defined on each side of the center zone. In this embodiment,the multiple touch event and location thereof can set a resting placefor the user's hands on the touch sensor so that the touch sensor can beoptimized for the user and the center zone of the touch sensor islocated at the resting location of the user's hands. Thus, depending onthe size of the user's hands, the center zone of the touch sensor can beadjusted closer to or further away from an edge of the tablet computer.

At block 706, a fingerprint is detected on the touch sensor. The flowthen proceeds to block 708, and a zone that the fingerprint is detectedin is determined. An input function for the fingerprint is determinedbased on the zone of the touch sensor at block 710. In an embodiment,the same fingerprint can be associated with a different input functiondepending on which zone of the touch sensor the fingerprint is detected.In an embodiment, a processor can compare the detected fingerprint toeach of the fingerprints, if any, that are stored in a memory and thatare associated with the zone in which the fingerprint was detected. Atblock 712, the determined input function is performed.

FIG. 8 shows an information handling system 800 according to a specificembodiment of the present disclosure. The information handling system800 may include a processor 802 such as a central processing unit (CPU),a graphics processing unit (GPU), or both. Moreover, the informationhandling system 800 can include a main memory 804 and a static memory806 that can communicate with each other via a bus 808. As shown, theinformation handling system 800 may further include a video display unit810, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emittingdiode (OLED), a flat panel display, a solid state display, or a cathoderay tithe (CRT). Additionally, the information handling system 800 mayinclude an input device 812, such as a keyboard, and a cursor controldevice 814, such as a mouse. The information handling system 800 canalso include a disk drive unit 816, a signal generation device 818, suchas a speaker or remote control, and a network interface device 820 toprovide communications over a network 826. Information handling systemalso includes the sensor detector 132.

The information handling system 800 can include a set of instructionsthat can be executed to cause the computer system to perform any one ormore of the methods or computer based functions disclosed herein. Thecomputer system 800 may operate as a standalone device or may beconnected such as using a network, to other computer systems orperipheral devices.

In a networked deployment, the information handling system 800 mayoperate in the capacity of a server or as a client user computer in aserver-client user network environment, or as a peer computer system ina peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The informationhandling system 800 can also be implemented as or incorporated intovarious devices, such as a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, aset-top box (STB), a PDA, a mobile device, a palmtop computer, a laptopcomputer, a desktop computer, a communications device, a wirelesstelephone, a land-line telephone, a control system, a camera, a scanner,a facsimile machine, a printer, a pager, a personal trusted device, aweb appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any other machinecapable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise)that specify actions to be taken by that machine. In a particularembodiment, the computer system 800 can be implemented using electronicdevices that provide voice, video or data communication. Further, whilea single information handling system 800 is illustrated, the term“system” shall also be taken to include any collection of systems orsub-systems that individually or jointly execute a set, or multiplesets, of instructions to perform one or more computer functions.

The disk drive unit 816 may include a computer-readable medium 822 inwhich one or more sets of instructions 824 such as software can beembedded. Further, the instructions 824 may embody one or more of themethods or logic as described herein. In a particular embodiment, theinstructions 824 may reside completely, Or at least partially, withinthe main memory 804, the static memory 806, and/or within the processor802 during execution by the information handling system 800. The mainmemory 804 and the processor 802 also may include computer-readablemedia. The network interface device 820 can provide connectivity to anetwork 826, e.g., a wide area network (WAN), a local area network(LAN), or other network.

In an alternative embodiment, dedicated hardware implementations such asapplication specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays andother hardware devices can be constructed to implement one or more ofthe methods described herein. Applications that may include theapparatus and systems of various embodiments can broadly include avariety of electronic and computer systems. One or more embodimentsdescribed herein may implement functions using two or more specificinterconnected hardware modules or devices with related control and datasignals that can be communicated between and through the modules, or asportions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Accordingly, thepresent system encompasses software, firmware, and hardwareimplementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, themethods described herein may be implemented by software programsexecutable by a computer system. Further, in an exemplary, non-limitedembodiment, implementations can include distributed processing,component/object distributed processing, and parallel processing.Alternatively, virtual computer system processing can be constructed toimplement one or more of the methods or functionality as describedherein.

The present disclosure contemplates a computer-readable medium thatincludes instructions 824 or receives and executes instructions 824responsive to a propagated signal; so that a device connected to anetwork 826 can communicate voice, video or data over the network 826.Further, the instructions 824 may be transmitted or received over thenetwork 826 via the network interface device 820.

While the computer-readable medium is shown to be a single medium, theterm “computer-readable medium” includes a single medium or multiplemedia, such as a centralized or distributed database, and/or associatedcaches and servers that store one or more sets of instructions. The term“computer-readable medium” shall also include any medium that is capableof storing, encoding, or carrying a set of instructions for execution bya processor or that cause a computer system to perform any one or moreof the methods or operations disclosed herein.

Lou particular non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, the computer-readablemedium can include a solid-state memory such as a memory card or otherpackage that houses one or more non-volatile read-only memories.Further, the computer-readable medium can be a random access memory orother volatile re-writable memory. Additionally, the computer-readablemedium can include a magneto-optical or optical medium, such as a diskor tapes or other storage device to store information received viacarrier wave signals such as a signal communicated over a transmissionmedium. Furthermore, a computer readable medium can store informationreceived from distributed network resources such as from a cloud-basedenvironment. A digital file attachment to an e-mail or otherself-contained information archive or set of archives may be considereda distribution medium that is equivalent to a tangible storage medium.Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one or more ofa computer-readable medium or a distribution medium and otherequivalents and successor media, in which data or instructions may bestored.

Although only a few exemplary embodiments have been described in detailabove, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that manymodifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments withoutmaterially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of theembodiments of the present disclosure. Accordingly, all suchmodifications are intended to be included within the scope of theembodiments of the present disclosure as defined in the followingclaims. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to coverthe structures described herein as performing the recited function andnot only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: detecting a firstfingerprint on a touch sensor of an information handling system;determining that the first fingerprint is within a first zone of thetouch sensor; matching the first fingerprint to a stored fingerprint forthe first zone; determining a first input function associated with thefirst fingerprint based on the first fingerprint matching the storedfingerprint for the first zone, wherein the first fingerprint isassociated with the first input function based on the first fingerprintbeing located within the first zone, and the first fingerprint isassociated with a second input function based on the first fingerprintbeing located within a second zone of the first touch sensor; andexecuting, by the information handling system, the first input function.2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: detecting a multiple touchevent on the touch sensor; and setting different zones in the touchsensor based on a location of the multiple touch event on the touchsensor.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: performing atraining mode, wherein the training mode includes: detecting a secondfingerprint on the touch sensor; determining that the second fingerprintis within a second zone of the touch sensor; determining whether thesecond fingerprint matches a stored fingerprint associated with thesecond zone of the touch sensor; in response to the second fingerprintnot matching a stored fingerprint associated with the second zone of thetouch sensor, prompting the user to select a second input function forthe second fingerprint; and storing the second input function for thesecond fingerprint in the second zone.
 4. The method of claim 1, whereinthe information handling system includes a tablet computer and a dock.5. The method of claim 4, wherein the touch sensor is located on a rearsurface of the tablet computer.
 6. The method of claim 4, wherein thetouch sensor is located on a rear surface of the dock.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the first input function is selected from a groupconsisting of an alphanumeric character of a keyboard and an action in avideo game application.
 8. An information handling system comprising: atablet computer, the tablet computer includes: a touch sensor; a sensordetector configured to communicate with the touch sensor, the sensordetector configured to detect a first fingerprint on the touch sensor;and a processor configured to communicate with the sensor detector, theprocessor configured to determine that the first fingerprint is within afirst zone of the touch sensor, to match the first fingerprint to astored fingerprint for the first zone of the touch sensor, to determinea first input function associated with the first fingerprint based onthe first fingerprint matching the stored fingerprint for the firstzone, and to execute the first input function, wherein the firstfingerprint is associated with the first input function based on thefirst fingerprint being located within the first zone of the first touchsensor, and the first fingerprint is associated with a second inputfunction based on the first fingerprint being located within a secondzone of the first touch sensor.
 9. The information handling system ofclaim 8, wherein sensor detector is further configured to detect amultiple touch event on the touch sensor, and the processor is furtherconfigured to set different zones in the touch sensor based on alocation of the multiple touch event on the touch sensor.
 10. Theinformation handling system of claim 8, wherein the processor is furtherconfigured execute a training mode, during the training mode: the sensordetector is configured to detect a second fingerprint on the touchsensor, and the processor is configured to determine that the secondfingerprint is within a second zone of the touch sensor, to determinewhether the second fingerprint matches a stored fingerprint associatedwith the second zone of the touch sensor, in response to the secondfingerprint not matching a stored fingerprint associated with the secondzone of the touch sensor, to prompt the user to select a second inputfunction for the second fingerprint, and to store the second inputfunction for the second fingerprint in the second zone.
 11. Theinformation handling system of claim 8, wherein the touch sensor islocated on a rear surface of the tablet computer.
 12. The informationhandling system of claim 11, wherein the touch sensor is an opticalsensor to detect fingerprints.
 13. The information handling system ofclaim 8, wherein the first input function is selected from a groupconsisting of an alphanumeric character of a keyboard and an action in avideo game application.
 14. An information handling system comprising: adock, the dock includes: a cradle configured to hold a tablet computerwithin the dock; first and second handles in physical communication withthe cradle; and a first touch sensor in physical communication with afirst surface of the first handle, the first touch sensor configured toreceive a first fingerprint and to provide the first fingerprint and alocation of the first fingerprint on the first touch sensor to thetablet computer, wherein the first fingerprint is associated with afirst input function for the tablet computer based on the firstfingerprint being located at a first location of the first touch sensor,wherein the first fingerprint is associated with a second input functionfor the tablet computer based on the first fingerprint being located ata second location of the first touch sensor.
 15. The informationhandling system of claim 14, wherein the dock further includes: a secondtouch sensor in physical communication with a second surface of thefirst handle.
 16. The information handling system of claim 15, whereinthe first and second surfaces are opposing surfaces of the first handle.17. The information handling system of claim 14, further comprising: thetablet computer configured to communicate with the dock, the tabletcomputer includes: a sensor detector configured to communicate with thefirst touch sensor, the sensor detector configured to detect the firstfingerprint on the first touch sensor; and a processor configured tocommunicate with the sensor detector, the processor configured todetermine that the first fingerprint is within the first location of thefirst touch sensor, to match the first fingerprint to a storedfingerprint for the first location, to determine the first inputfunction associated with the first fingerprint based on the firstfingerprint matching the stored fingerprint for the first location, andto execute the first input function.
 18. The information handling systemof claim 14, wherein sensor detector is further configured to detect amultiple touch event on the first touch sensor, and the processor isfurther configured to set different zones in the first touch sensorbased on a location of the multiple touch event on the first touchsensor.
 19. The information handling system of claim 14, wherein theprocessor is further configured execute a training mode, during thetraining mode: the sensor detector is configured to detect a secondfingerprint on the first touch sensor, and the processor is configuredto determine that the second fingerprint is within the second locationof the first touch sensor, to determine whether the second fingerprintmatches a stored fingerprint associated with the second location of thefirst touch sensor, in response to the second fingerprint not matching astored fingerprint associated with the second location of the firsttouch sensor, to prompt the user to select the second input function forthe second fingerprint, and to store the second input function for thesecond fingerprint in the second location.
 20. The information handlingsystem of claim 14, wherein the first input function is selected from agroup consisting of an alphanumeric character of a keyboard and anaction in a video game application.